Oct 28, 2016

Music Review: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016)

(The link to the soundtrack jukebox is featured at the end of this post)

Review

Alizeh features really good vocals from Arijit Singh, Ash King and Shashwat Singh, and an interesting church song-like arrangement. Beyond that it doesn't impress all that much, but it remains a decent melodious listen.Cutie Pie is a goofy song with whacky lyrics, but it is effective. Sung by Nakash Aziz and Pradeep Singh Sran, his voice goes really well the mood of the song. The song having a nice Punjabi flavor to it boasts of an extremely catchy beat.One would think a song which features the line "breakup song" over and over again may be a bit too much, but The Breakup Song actually works as a song. Jonita Gandhi brings it to life with her powerhouse vocals, and does a great job to match the energy of Arijit Singh's voice. The rap by Badshah is also a nice inclusion in this one.Featuring a really nice element of rock with some really good use of guitar, Bulleya is a really impressive song. Amit Mishra does an outstanding job behind the mic, truly gives the track the power it requires. Shilpa Rao also does really well in the brief portions given to her.What works really well in Channa Mereya are the simple arrangement, the neat singing by Arijit and the wonderful lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya. Arijit Singh brings out his very best in this one singing-wise, giving it the right feels from the very start of the song till the last moment.My pick of the album is the title track, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. It was a very difficult choice between this and the previous track, both being personal favorites, but what makes the title track stand out is the blend between the brilliant composition and the perfect vocals by Arijit Singh. And it goes without saying that the lyrics are again effective and striking. (Note: I actually rate Ae Dil Hai Mushkil as my favorite track of the year as of now)

Final Word: Despite hoping Ae Dil Hai Mushkil would be a huge soundtrack in terms of quantity, this 6-song album by Pritam and Amitabh Bhattacharya really delivers. Featuring some great vocals all round and a good variety of songs, the product of Pritam's first collaboration with Karan Johar is a winner all the way!